Tender Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
A fuss-free slow cooker recipe for tender, juicy pulled pork sandwiches with a smoky, tangy, and sweet BBQ sauce. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners or entertaining guests.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (low) or 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes (low) or 4 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 lbs pork shoulder (bone-in or boneless)
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce (smoky, slightly sweet)
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 6–8 hamburger buns or sandwich rolls
- Optional toppings: coleslaw, pickles, extra BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Trim any excessive fat from the pork shoulder, leaving some for flavor. Pat dry with paper towels. (5 minutes)
- In a bowl, combine BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth. (5 minutes)
- Place sliced onions at the bottom of the slow cooker. Lay the pork shoulder on top, then pour the BBQ sauce mixture evenly over the meat. (5 minutes)
- Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until pork is fork-tender and shreds easily.
- Remove pork from slow cooker and shred using two forks or hands. (10 minutes)
- Skim off excess fat from the sauce in the slow cooker, then return shredded pork to the sauce and stir well. (5 minutes)
- Lightly toast sandwich buns on a skillet or in the oven. (5 minutes)
- Assemble sandwiches by piling warm pulled pork onto buns and adding optional toppings like coleslaw or pickles. (5 minutes)
Notes
Patting the pork dry before seasoning helps the sauce stick better. Avoid lifting the slow cooker lid during cooking to maintain heat. Shred pork gently to avoid mushy texture. Toast buns to prevent sogginess. Sauce can be prepared a day ahead for better flavor melding.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pulled pork sandwi
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 17.5
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 42.5
- Fiber: 2.5
- Protein: 32.5
Keywords: slow cooker, pulled pork, BBQ, sandwiches, easy recipe, comfort food, weeknight dinner